The U.S. Senate has voted to expand the Joint Chiefs of Staff to include the National Guard. That’s despite the opposition of the current chairman and service chiefs.
The Senate approved an amendment to the sweeping defense bill by voice vote last night.
Senator Patrick Leahy helped to lead the effort that’s designed to give the Guard a bigger say in military planning since it’s been used so heavily in recent years.
(Leahy) "The guard is integral to almost everything our military does, except they don’t sit at the table where the decisions are made. I want them to sit at the table where the decision is made. They’ll follow orders, they’ll do what’s asked of them. But they ought to be at least involved in the planning, not the execution of the plan."
(Host) Leahy was joined in the initiative by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. The bill had overwhelming support with 70 co-sponsors.